Showing posts with label Grand Center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grand Center. Show all posts

23 June 2022

Helping at Circus Flora: "The Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask"


This season, Circus Flora's show is "The Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask," which began its run on 9 June and will last until 3 July. The story has the circus troupe going through St. Louis' underground caves searching for a ghost innkeeper who has been causing mischief in town.

I report to work one hour before the show begins to put on my volunteer apron and button, before cleaning the seats. Just before the house opens 30 minutes before showtime, me and the other volunteers get our briefing from house manager Harald Boerstler before assuming our positions. We act as ushers helping the audience find their seats.


When the show begins at approximately 7:00 pm, I find a seat in the mezzanine to watch the performance. There is a 15-minute intermission midway through the show, and the volunteers help the audience members as needed in leaving and then returning to their seats before the second act begins.

The last act is a flying trapeze routine, and I help the ring crew by sitting near one of the safety net supports. This is so any audience members that may walk by there don't get tripped up by the cable. The ring crew takes down the net right after the company leaves the ring, and then the audience safely leaves the tent. The show ends after approximately two hours. After the audience leaves, I and the other volunteers pick up any trash left near the seats and dispose of it before checking out.

"The Quest for the Innkeeper's Cask" has a variety of acts, including equestrian artists Caleb Carinci-Asch and Lea Innocenti; The Flying Cortes trapeze act; The Flying Wallendas high wire act; featured performers Britt Lower and Ambrose Martos; Russian Cradle act Sam Renaud and Louis Joyal; The St. Louis Arches acrobats; and Trio Black Diamond, who perform trio hand balance equilibrium and duo antipode (foot juggling). Cecil McKinnon plays Yo-Yo the Storyteller and there is a five-piece band performing throughout the show.







We had about 180 attendees at last night's show, and they all enjoyed the event. Seeing these people leave the Big Top in such a good mood makes my work worthwhile.

I have one more volunteer shift scheduled for this season, this coming Wednesday night (29 June). Hope to see you there.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in This Post:

 







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Location: Mehlville, MO, USA

06 June 2021

Back to Circus Flora for The St. Lou Revue

For the first time in two years, I ran away to the circus--Circus Flora. Last night (5 June), I was a volunteer for the circus' weekend-only show "The St.Lou Review," which played at the Big Top in the Grand Center Arts District of Midtown St. Louis. (The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled last year's show.) It was a great feeling to return to the Big Top and volunteer with Circus Flora.
I checked in at 6:15 pm--45 minutes before the show--with the other volunteers, wearing face masks to be on the safe side. I helped clean the mezzanine seats (the upper deck) before the audience came in starting at 6:30 pm. Then, I helped the audience members find their seats, either in the mezzanine or on the floor before the main stage. The seats were sold to allow for social distancing, with several seats left empty between groups of people. When the show began, I took up a seat high in the mezzanine, well apart from several other attendees. Jack Marsh, the artistic director, and Karen Shoulders, the managing director, took to the stage to welcome everyone to "The St. Lou Review," and to ask for their financial support. (I made a $10 donation to Circus Flora on 6 May, during Give STL Day.)
It was then on with the show, as host and juggler Kellin took the stage. He did his own juggling act as well as introducing the other acts that night.
After Kellin's first appearance, Elliana Grace performed her hula hoops dance routine on the smaller stage on the floor. She was able to keep several hoops moving around her legs, arms, and midsection. It was quite amazing.
Back on the main stage, the Purina Incredible Dog Team performed. A trainer held up and tossed flying discs for the dog to jump up and snatch with its teeth. It was a definite crowd pleaser.
Mariele a la Mode was up on the trapeze for a routine based on "Carmen Suite No. 2: Habanera." She not only performed on the trapeze above the smaller stage, but also sang to the music. It was a beautiful routine.
The Circus Flora Clowns took to the main stage, wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Realizing that the pandemic is lessening, the clowns removed their PPEs in a faux striptease routine. This got quite a few laughs.
Hoop diving was next on the schedule, as Chauncey Kroner did his acrobatic routine to much appreciative applause.
Kellin came back for some juggling, before Kinetic Tapestry--the duo of Jaime and Vanessa--performed a beautiful dance trapeze act.
Juggler Thom Wall took the stage next, as he dazzled the crowd with his amazing balancing act.
After another performance by the Purina Incredible Dog Team, Maria Majors and Tommy Wasiuta of moSTLy TAP hit the stage with their energetic tap dance routine.
Laura Lippert was next up, performing her hair hang routine that I found most incredible, and very impressive.
That was followed by a long-time Circus Flora act, Circus Harmony's St. Louis Archers. This troupe of young acrobats never fails to impress the audience.
Kellin stacked up three stacks atop a shipping chest and climbed atop the stack to finish the show and to thank the artists and the audience. "The St. Lou Revue" ended after about 75 minutes, and the crowd began to leave the Big Top. I helped the audience from my section of the mezzanine and picked up a handful of trash from the seating area before my shift ended soon afterward.
I was so happy to be able to help Circus Flora again and the happiness I saw in the audience members' faces as they departed made me glad that my fellow volunteers and I had done their part, as the circus performers did their part. On my way home, I stopped by Quik Trip for a latte.

This fall--7-31 October--Circus Flora will be back in the Big Top with their show, "The Trial of the Century." I am looking forward to it.

Later.

Links to entities mentioned in this post:

Circus Flora--https://circusflora.org/ 
Grand Center Arts District--https://www.grandcenter.org/ 
Mariel a la Mode--http://www.marielalamode.com/ 
STL Rhythm Collaborative (including moSTLy TAP)--https://www.stlrhythmcollaborative.org/ 
Laura Lippert--http://lauralippert.com/ 
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Location: Mehlville, MO, USA

29 June 2019

Witnessing "The Caper in Aisle 6"

This past Wednesday night (26 June), I did a volunteer stint with Circus Flora (https://circusflora.org/) in the Grand Center Arts District (http://www.grandcenter.org/) of midtown St. Louis. This was my last scheduled shift of four this season for the show "The Caper in Aisle 6," and it was the first of the full show before a paying audience.

After helping clean some of the seats before the audience arrived, I helped welcome the audience and directed them to their seats. We had a very good crowd that night--at least 4/5 full. "The Caper in Aisle 6" involved people who could fly, anchovies, and Schnuck Markets (https://nourish.schnucks.com/).



With Yo-Yo the Narrator (Cecil MacKinnon) guiding us all, there were the Nemean Sisters performing an aerial act, then the acrobatics of Circus Harmony's St. Louis Archers (https://circusharmony.org/) took the stage. Matthew Morgan and Mooky Cornish played the manager and the grocery employer during the show. Rounding out Act I were the trained dogs and pigs of the HotDiggity Dog Show, and the high wire artistry of the Flying Wallendas (http://wallenda.com/index.html).


Trio Bellissimo showed off its contortion and hand balancing skills just before the intermission, then after the break Kellin the clown impressed us with his juggling skills.


The Daring Horseman demonstrated great trick horse riding skill, including flipping from one horse's back to another while in motion, and leaping off the horse through a flaming hoop.


Morgan and Cornish kept the story running along, and Cornish pulled a few audience members on stage for a brief show number. This was followed by the teeterboard act Duo Ikai. While that act was going on, I and the other volunteers got our instructions on helping make sure the safety nets were in place for the final act, the Flying Royals on the flying trapeze (https://www.facebook.com/TheFlyingRoyals/). I was stationed near one of the tie down points for the net, to make sure nobody from the audience gets tripped by it.


After that, the show ended with the ring crew, band, and company being recognized by Yo-Yo. I then helped make sure the audience got out of their seats and filed out of the Big Top in good order. I then helped pick up trash for a few minutes before checking out of the tent and heading home--happy to have done my bit in making Circus Flora a success and that the audience enjoyed being there.

"The Caper in Aisle 6" ends tomorrow (Sunday) night. Catch it if you can. You won't be disappointed.

Later.
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